Santa Maria di Leuca · Italy · Artificial reef
Madonna dei due Mari
A statue of the Madonna on the seabed below the Leuca lighthouse
Madonna dei due Mari is a statue of the Madonna on the seabed below the lighthouse promontory at Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and the Adriatic meet. It is a very simple dive out of the current, used as a training ground for novice divers, with octopus and nudibranchs around it.
Where it is and how deep
39.7959° N, 18.3684° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The statue stands at 15 m, sheltered from the current, which makes the site a training ground for new divers. Around it, octopus and several species of nudibranch are common, and seahorses are sometimes found.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Santa Maria di Leuca: Early summer brings sunfish and July and August the warmest sea; February is the coldest month.
Dive videos
Salento Diving ® Madonna dei Due Mari - salento , leuca , diving, immersioni · Salento Diving ® on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the Madonna dei due Mari dive suitable for new divers?+
Yes. The statue lies at 15 m in water sheltered from current, and an Open Water certification is enough.
Sources
- Immersioni nel Salento - Salento Diving Leuca — Salento Diving
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
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Cave & cavern
Mushroom-shaped boulders leading into the submerged part of a sea cave
Coral garden
Gardens of large yellow and red gorgonians on sand, and a sunken anchor
Seamount
A forest of red and yellow gorgonians on the flanks of a sunken dome
Coral garden
Broad rock steps thick with gorgonians on a bank swept by current
Wreck
A Turkish freighter sitting upright as if still under way
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